Wankerbastards and summer sunshine will make us want the bloody wine. But tryers to be dryers won't give up, and ice cold becks blue we will sup.

[Frouby]

Thread 7 for the tryers.

Join us for tips and support for encouraging a more healthy relationship with alcohol. Whether you want to drink less, or not at all, stay in your units or just cut down this is the thread for friendship, support, tips and ideas.

Absolutely no judgements here, but there will possibly be swearing.

Other threads are dotted around but I have yet to master a clicky link.

Ugh cold has turned very sneezy so have retired to bed.

Frouby I have not seen that film but will look out for it. Dragon boat racing sounds great for your dd.

flossie sorry been out most of the day with the kids so not been on here.
My friend drinks about 3 bottles a day and has done for about 3 years. She started off as a binge drinker then it just progressed, she's been hospitalised before with low potassium and also after having a seizure after stopping drinking with no support. I'm getting to the stage of a couple of bottles a day but thankfully I don't get major physical withdrawals. I get headaches but no shakes.
And yes I have medication (tetrasyl) that puts a strain on your liver too but yet I drink, stupid isn't it! Supposed to have your liver function tested regularly on it but my GP has never made or even asked me to so never had a test.
Well I've had just the one bottle today, which is an improvement I suppose, my drinking has increased massively over the last year with a lot of crap that's happened in a short space of time, ohhhh if only I were like the rest of the population who can cope with life without alcohol! Lol.
Waterandlemonjuice good luck on getting to day 5! :)

I'm going to try and check in every morning to update. Did my first AF day for ages yesterday. Even if I don't have a full bottle of wine it's usually a few glasses or a can or two of cider. Had a terrible headache last night, withdrawal 🤔? But woken up a lot more alert and feel good! Going to try and remain AF until the weekend - that's the goal not sure I'll stick it!

@Flossie44 totally resonate with the beer fear, usually I wake up at some godawful hour of the morning with crippling anxiety about something even if I don't know what, it's horrid.

@Frouby Wonder if my dp would be on board with the shagging to lose weight theory? Probably not, feel like he's gone off me a bit lately :(

Sorry forgot to say welcome to cats and drama. Very sad about your friend drama, I hope she gets the support she needs. A lot of us did feel worse with reducing alcohol, it does take a few days to feel the benefits fully but when we do it is brilliant.

Longest sorry you feel crappy. Me and dd had a bug at the start of the holidays and ds has it now. It's one of those lingery bugs that keep erupting with different symptoms one by one, not enough to take to your bed, but 2 weeks of feeling shitty. Ds is still coughing like an old man with a 40 a day habit but it's not as wracking today.

Debating what to do today. Ds wants to go kayaking later and dd wants to do polo. So that's tonight taken care of. Not going to let ds swim much after though because of his cough, straight out and changed and dried off.

Could do with riding but think both things be too much for ds, so will probably potter and do a big shop. Might tackle cleaning the fridge out, what joy.

Will be AF tonight due to kayaking so will be 3 days which is a first since kids broke up. It's been much more difficult to maintain moderating in the holidays but I knew it would be. Went to fatclub and had thankfully lost the 3.5lbs I had put on since I last got weighed, and had put 2lbs on the time before. So overall am just 1/2 heavier than the start of the holidays which I am pleased with. Usually put 1/2 stone on in 6 weeks holidays due to days out and picnics and drinking more. Glad I have kept going, it's too easy to sack it off until September. I probably won't lose anything overall but at least I should maintain. Then start again when they are back at school.

Autumn is my favourite time of year as well. I like salad and summer foods, but love stews and roasts and shepherds pie and loads of lovely root veg with everything and big pans of veg soup.

Hi everyone, welcome to cats and Drama. I hope your friend manages to sort her problem out Drama, it must be so difficult seeing her like that. She needs professional help but if she doesn't want to stop drinking that won't be enough. Well done on day 1 Cats and everyone else!

Not sure that sex burns off more calories than a brisk walk, but it's fun to do. What is DPD ??

Longest I hope you enjoy your bike. I love cycling, but more in the summer than the winter. I can run in the wind and rain no problem but it's not much fun cycling in bad weather.

Water I hope you get to day 5. I'm not finding it easy in the holidays, so may wait for September to get back properly to AF.

Frouby it is getting autumnal here at the moment.. Only 13°c this morning when I went out for a run. It's my favourite season too, I'm starting to crave a homemade vegetable soup rather than salad.

I was AF yesterday, like Dion, rather enforced due to over indulgence on Sunday. We had a barbecue and managed to drink 15 bottles of wine between 8 adults. I fell over and hurt my knee, didn't have a hangover as such but just felt awful due to lack of sleep. But it was great fun, so no regrets.

Longest - hope you’re on the mend soon, especially considering your break.

Drama - so sorry to hear about your friend. She’s lucky you’re there for her. But then puts stress on you too, which obviously has pitfalls for us all. Stay strong lovely.

Cat - well done on AF

Frouby - your day sounds so busy. But ‘lovely busy’. I love autumnal food too. I’m going to make your easy veg pasta tonight. While I was away on hols, I miraculously lost weight. 5lbs!! So have come home and taken the bull by the horns and am cracking on with SW. Lost another pound in 3 days. Only prob is, I’m not going to be as active at home due to all the stuff I need to do. While away, I walked literally miles a day!! Anyway....any tips or easy veggie recipes, would be gratefully appreciated 😉

Madame - was thinking about your party. Sounds a corker!! Glad you celebrated your wedding so well. Sounds great fun!!

Dd2 seems to have a temp today. Been up a lot in the night. Due to her other health stuff, it’s not good when she gets a temp or anything else. So I’m watching and waiting. Probably the plane home that has sparked this off. Not fun tho!! Am exhausted today!!
Was dry last night which I’m mega proud of and am planning on the same tonight. In fact had half a bottle of wine in the fridge that I threw down the sink!! Wtaf!!!!! I felt so well on holiday and am going to cling to everything I have in order to feel healthy and happy in both body and mind. Sounds a bit hippy but definitely worth a shot

Flossie hope you enjoy the veg pasta, am going to make some tomorrow for dd, we are having shepherds pie which she won't eat, not even a veggie alternative filling as she doesn't like mashed potato.

Am debating a big vat of veg soup as well Madame, I need some red lentils though. I always chuck half a cup in and find it thickens it up. Got a billionty courgettes at the moment so might do a courgette one, or a minestrone and chuck loads of courgette in that.

Just done a pile of ironing. Hate fucking ironing. And now drinking a coffee wishing it was gin!

Have just read Lisa Jewells new book, The Family Upstairs. Fab, gripping book if anyone likes suspense/drama/thriller type with a bit of clever chiclit stuff thrown in. Read 80% of it sunday in one sitting, would have finished it but it was past midnight and eyes were shutting.

Oooo frouby, I looked at that book. I love thriller/suspense. I’ve just finished The Lie. Omfg my fave book ever!! You must give it a go!! Just started The Couple Next Door. Not sure what I’ll make of that one but promised my sister I’d read it. The one I really want to read is The Holiday. That’s got mega fab reviews on Amazon so I’ll be straight onto that!!
You must read The Lie and tell me what you think!! Reading keeps me out of mischief!!

You’ve made me think of soup. I love a red pepper one!!
Dd’s are about to venture into the kitchen shortly to make a curry!! Why the hell do I allow these things to go on!! 🙈🙈

Dry tonight hopefully. Would be so proud of myself. Dh text though to say what a shit day he’s having. So I’m hoping he sorts it before coming home, or has willpower not to reach for a beer!!!! If he does...I’ll weaken!!

I am not so into thriller/suspense normally but Lisa Jewell's early chick lit is my guilty pleasure so that's definitely on my summer reading list. She must live near me as they always feature some local landmarks. Trying to do a bit more reading generally. Have just finished a parenting book by Grayson Perry"s wife that lots of people were raving about but I wasn't sure it said anything very new. Also reading a book about London that I picked up at a cool floating book shop on a house boat but it's a bit more literary than I was bargaining for tbh. Might join work book group.

Still feel a bit under the weather but am not really poorly or anything. Planning an AF night or possibly nights and some comfort food.

I am not really with you on Autumn though. It is dark and gloomy and heralds winter which is just grim. Don't mind a veggie soup but I eat those year round really, though no one else in my family can/will. My new innovation is the yellow split peas rather than the red lentils, and as much chilli as I can get away with.

Ugh legal challenge has arrived re grim work project which probably spells an end to quieter period. Still, can feel smug on holiday at the end of this week in muddy field.

longest I love Lisa Jewell, one of my favourite authors, all her books are so different with such different storylines and plots. Her last couple have been quite dark and twisty and she does it really well.

Flossie I have read The Couple Next Door, it was OK, not amazing but worth reading. Just downloaded The Lie, will let you know what I think. Have also just finished book 2 of the Wire In the Blood series, quite enjoyed both and there are another 8 to read. I like a good series to plough through, makes chosing the next thing you will read easier.

Has anyone read the Tana French series? That was fabulous. Based in the murder squad in dublin. And Anne Cleeves has a new book with a new detective so hopefully will be a full series, due out in September.

Kids had fun at kayaking. Dd was starting to learn her rolls and ds was just bonkers as usual. Just having a cuppa so managed to do 3 dry nights! Won't be dry tomorrow. Definetly having at least 1 gin.

I am not really with you on Autumn though. It is dark and gloomy and heralds winter which is just grim

I'm going to re-phrase that for you, Longest, as "Autumn can just fuck off to the far side of fuck, then fuck off again some more" (to coin a phrase I learnt from Mumsnet). It can take winter with it, too. So there.

Loving the reading suggestions. I read far more when I'm AF. Though I also re-read a lot, because I read when I've had a drink, but can never remember what I read so have to read it again.

How is DD2, Flossie? You're brave letting them make curry. And 5lb!!

How have you got on tonight, Cats?

Drama, you speak for so many of us when you say there's a link between shitty things happening and you starting to drink more. That's certainly been the case for me.

Good luck with the legal stuff once you're home, Longest. And I hope your bug goes away.

Frouby yay to 3 nights. Hope DS is feeling better soon.

Barbecue sounds fun, MadameF!

I have managed Day 2. I should feel elated, but I feel fat and fed up (have eaten instead of drinking). I have spent most of the day in that awful 'will I/won't I' frame of mind. But I'm panicking about the state of my health, and I know there is absolutely nothing good that will come of me having a drink. I'll be bad tempered with the DC and I'll be paranoid about DP. So I will leave the DC to it and go to bed soon, and then the day will be over.

AF again today but bored and irritable as hell! Watching a crap film with dp and wondering when all the sense of well-being will kick in :/

Same here, Cats. FML.

I'll be glad in the early hours, though, when I wake up being perimenopausal rather than full of beer fear...

@Dionysa same here. I guess it's just learning what to do instead of drinking. Feels like way too late to go for a run or anything like that. It's not just about quitting it's about breaking certain habits and replacing them with other things.

I'll join you in the AF but not very zen space. Nipped out on bike to local shop which was the highlight of my evening, even though it probably took longer to extract bike from tangle with DC's than it saved me in walking time. Still feel a bit poorly. Can't decide if I can be bothered to have a bath. Might just take literary London book off to bed.

Dd1 is full of watersports camp today though . She seems to have sacked off sailing in favour of kayaking which is "harder work but more fun" so perhaps she'd fit in here. She is chuffed with herself for braving the capsize test. Only a couple more days of holiday childcare logistics left, though am kidding myself really as there is still dd2 settling in period in September.

Well done on day 2 Dionysa

Im with all the lovers of autumn, me too.

This is day 3 AF for me. About bloody time, I’ve been terrible. But the past few months have been really shitty in parts so that’s partly why.

I’m worried about my health too and I’m in that bit where I don’t really feel any better so that’s annoying but I know I will. Obviously!

I made a list today of all the things I like that aren’t drinking and there were quite a few things on it, thankfully 😅

I’m fucking fat too, wine belly, urgh.

Wow everyone’s AF!!!!!!! Me too!! Day 2!! Can’t quite believe it!! Will have to read the liver trust stories every time I want wine!!

Dh got home late so I waited for him til I ate dinner. Smacked on fruit. Then ate frouby’s pasta. Bloody delish frouby..thanks!! 😊

Dion - thanks for asking after dd2. Due to her being home from school, she’s managed. We can deal with it at home. Well
Kind of. It’s still totally shit to see your daughter unable to breath and looking at you with desperate eyes to help her. But I’d rather be there for her than have the anxiety of her being at school and me scared as to what’s happening constantly. Back to London next week for appointment and hopefully a move in the right direction.

Just started to watch Big Little Lies. Second series. Not sure if I can be arsed tho. However loved the first series so will try...

Wow, Flossie, day 2 after a day like that. You've got this!

Ugh my nerves are shattered after dd2 spevt 40 minutes screaming that she wanted dd1 to get up, which morphed into gear about a non existent hoover. I assume she's feeling rough too bit she denied it and refused Calpol so I have packed her off for her penultimate ever day at nursery, sob.

Well done everyone! I've managed two AF days as well. I can see potential for me to crack tonight - we often have a hump day bottle of wine that then sometimes drags into Thursday and then before I know it it's the weekend and it's time for the obligatory weekend drinking to commence. If I can stay dry tonight and just wait til the weekend I might feel like I deserve it a bit more!

"Hump day" made me laugh, Cats. Don't give me any more excuses to open a bottle is this what Frouby meant by the 3.5lb shag

Yay to us on Day 2 and Day 3. I might not have been very cheerful about it last night, but I was glad this morning. Tonight, as ever, may go either way, though.

Longest, penultimate day at nursery... oh no! I can't believe I have one who is going to be leaving school soon. It only seems like five minutes since he was starting.

We were very dry here last weren't we. Look at us all, smashing AF in the 6 weeks holidays.

Wet and blustery here. Fuck sake. Have had a lovely bath this morning, tidied round and done some washing and now not sure what to do with the rest of the day. Did say we were having a pony pampering day, manes and tails and legs washed, both rode and generally pottering around. Ds still coughing, dd still in bed, and just not feeling it in the rain. I don't particularly mind it, but the dcs both hate it, which is suprising really considering how they have both embraced watersports this summer.

Making shepherds pie for dinner. I actually can't wait, how sad it that 😂😂😂. Going to pick some french and runner beans from allotment later, and hide a bastarding courgette in it.

Debating dragging the carpet cleaner out and doing the upstairs carpets. Don't know if I can be arsed though. Other option is going to local retail park and getting last few bits of school stuff. Dd needs shoes, a bag, tights and we need to pick her stuff up we ordered yesterday from Next. Ds needs socks and another jumper and a white PE tshirt. And I need a waterproof coat. Mine leaked like a sieve last time I wore it despite being reproofed and even if I take the car its still a bit of a walk and no shelter to wait in at pick up time.

Well done to all of you, 2 nights AF is brilliant and just what is recommended by the liver trust (I think). I rather let the side down, was invited for an evening drink by UK friends and succumbed to a glass of wine, just one. A lot less than they were all drinking and had been since late afternoon.
It's funny, but when you invite people in France you always wait until everyone has arrived before pouring the drinks and saying 'santé', its a very sociable thing. It doesn't seem to be the case in the UK so much.
Not sleeping well despite drinking nothing or very little. I don't think it's the menopause, just feel a little bit shit generally. I hope it isn't hyperthyroidism again, although I haven't lost lots of weight so I doubt it. Maybe it is just the crap weather!

Jesus fuck. There is no gin strong enough to get through the annual skirt fight with dd.

Been nagging her since they broke up to go skirt shopping because it's always traumatic. She couldn't be arsed so we ordered them online from Next. Age 13. She's 15 and tall but skinny.

Anyhow, skirts have arrived, perfectly reasonable, smart school skirts. Tried one on and she is now refusing to wear them as they are too long. They aren't, they are the perfect length, about 3 inch above the knee.

Have point blank refused to change them on the basis that I won't waste any money on any skirts shorter than that, as uniform policy is 10cms above the knee, no shorter. She is refusing to wear them so have told her to wear her old ones if she likes, I don't care if she gets an detention for having too short a skirt. So now she says she isn't going back to school. Told her that's her choice as well, but her future not mine.

On top of that ds been a little git shopping for school stuff. We came back with wellies for ds, a wetsuit for dd and the uniform. Fml.

Very thirsty today.